Laid out in 1868, Parliament Square was designed to ease the
flow of traffic around the Palace of Westminster, and was the first
location in London to have traffic signals installed. In 1950 the
Square was redesigned into the form it still holds today, and has
since become notable for the number of statues of world statesmen
it features, including Winston Churchill, Abraham Lincoln, and most
recently Nelson Mandela.
Thanks to its proximity to the Houses of Parliament, the square
has historically been a site of protest. The square has been closed
since 2010 following the removal of one such protest that occupied
the entire centre, leaving it fenced off from the public. Subject
to continuing legal action, it is intended that the square will be
reopened fully in time for the London Olympics in July 2012. In A
Scandal in Belgravia, Jim Moriarty stands on the north east corner
of the square, by the statue of Winston Churchill on the junction
of Bridge Street and St. Margaret Street. The presence of the
security fencing on the square resulted in the low shooting angle
you see onscreen.
The nearest underground is Westminster [Circle, District,
Jubilee] with the Parliament Street exits opening directly opposite
the corner of the square that Jim stood on. Be aware there are no
direct road crossings to reach the statue of Churchill - you need
to walk down St. Margaret Street to the pedestrian crossings to get
there safely.
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